mountain

mountain · noun¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*monti
2. Latin · derived frommontem“mountain”
3. Early Medieval Latin · derived frommontānia
4. Anglo-Norman · derived frommuntaine
5. Middle English · inherited frommountayne
6. English todaymountain

From Middle English mountayne, mountain, montaigne, from Anglo-Norman muntaine, muntaigne, from Early Medieval Latin montānia, a collective based on Latin montem (“mountain”), from Proto-Indo-European *monti (compare Welsh mynydd (“mountain”), Albanian mat (“bank, shore”), Avestan 𐬨𐬀𐬙𐬌 (mati, “promontory”)), from *men- (“to project, stick out”). Displaced native English barrow (from Old English beorg) and down (from Old English dūn), and partially displaced non-native Old English munt, from Latin mōns (whence English mount).

Mountain · proper noun, noun²

From mountain.

Mountain · proper noun³

1. Philippine Spanish · calque ofLa Montañosa
2. English todayMountain

Calque of Philippine Spanish La Montañosa.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 12th c. An elevation of land of considerable dimensions rising more or less abruptly, forming a conspicuous figure in the landscape, usually having a small extent of surface at its summit.
• from 15th c. Something very large in size or quantity; a huge amount; a great heap.
• from 18th c. Wine from Malaga made from grapes that grow on a mountain.